Let’s face it: lunch packing can be a real drag. If your family's eating has gotten off course and you're cobbling together whatever you can muster for lunches but yearn for varied and healthful meals for your brood, you're not alone, and it's time for a reboot.

Lunch should provide the energy that kids need to make it through what often feels like a long day. But unless those lunches are also tasty, they will come back wasted and uneaten at the end of the day. I don't know about you, but when my kids are starving, the cranky factor goes through the roof and pretty much immobilizes them. And seriously, how disgusting is that sandwich after it’s been sitting in that lunchbox for 8+ hours?! Packing lunch also requires getting groceries and having a plan so that you're prepared, but browsing the aisles with multiple meals and multiple family members in mind can quickly feel like a cringe-causing chore.

1. It takes the stress off of you. Woo hoo! No more arguments in the morning because you ran out of your son's favorite turkey and have exactly 8 minutes to figure out lunch before you all have to leave the house. Pass the iPhone, iTouch or iPad to the kids and watch how fast they choose their lunches for an entire week! When the kids plan their own meals (with as much or as little input from you as you'd like), there's no mystery in "what's for lunch." You can even pack lunch at night and gain an extra ten minutes in the morning. Hello, coffee! LaLa Lunchbox is designed with four categories so that kids develop an understanding of what comprises a balanced lunch.

2. It saves you time. Scratch the meal planning chore off of your list! LaLa Lunchbox is completely customizable, so if you don't see what you want in the Food Library, you can add it at any time. By the same token, you can remove anything you don't want from the Food Library. We've created this feature to make LaLa Lunchbox available to all regardless of dietary lifestyle.

3. It saves you money. Remember how awful it felt to throw out a perfectly good sandwich that was uneaten? When your child chooses, she is less likely to waste food and more excited to eat what she has chosen.

4. It’s an inspiring way for them to try new foods. Picky eaters beware! When kids are at the wheel, even the pickiest among them is more likely to try something new. Radishes anyone?

5. It helps their organizational skills. Planning ahead is an incredibly useful skill! Get them started early.